Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common cause of infection but usually causes no symptoms. Infection with some types of HPV can cause cancer of the neck of the womb (cervix). Cervical cancer takes many years to develop after the infection with HPV. Genital warts are also caused by HPV. Immunisation against HPV should dramatically reduce cervical cancer cases in the future and lead to fewer cases of genital warts. It may also reduce other cancers thought to be sometimes due to HPV. Immunisation against HPV was introduced in the UK for girls in 2008. Women are still advised to attend for cervical screening tests, even if they have been immunised against HPV.

What is human papillomavirus?

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a tiny germ that almost everyone gets at some point of their life. Usually it is fairly harmless: it causes warts on your fingers, for example. Sometimes it can cause warts on your genital area too: your penis or vagina. Although these can be unsightly, they're not painful or harmful. But they are contagious! You can spread them to sexual partners, or catch them from someone.

Eventually scientists made the link: in some people, HPV isn't harmless ... it can cause cancer.

Does everyone infected with human papillomavirus get cancer?

Thankfully not. Only about 0.2% of people infected with HPV go on to get cancer. But because we're talking about millions of people with HPV, it leads to thousands of cancers.

Why is there so much attention on cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is the most common of the cancers that are caused by HPV. The others are all quite rare. But cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women aged under 35: there are about 3,000 new cases per year in the UK and sadly about 900 women die from it too (often older women who haven't benefited from the vaccine).

It is estimated that HPV causes 70% of cervical cancer, so if we can prevent young women getting HPV in the first place it should reduce their chances of getting cervical cancer.

What is the human papillomavirus vaccine?

A vaccine is a way to prevent you getting infected with something. It makes your immune system stronger so that it can fight off the infection from getting inside you. Scientists have made a vaccine that can stop you getting HPV.

It is called Gardasil® and you only need two injections of it. It is really effective, stopping 99% of HPV infections.

How many doses are there in the HPV vaccine?

The first dose is in year 8 at school (age 12).

The second is done between 6 and 24 months later.

If you miss the dose at age 12, you can get it at any age until 18.

If you are over 15 when you have the first dose, you will need three doses instead of two. You have one, then a second one month later, and a third five months after that.

At what age do I get HPV vaccine?

It can be given at any age between 12 and 18 years.

But usually the first dose is given age 12 and the second dose 6-12 months later.

Is it too late to have the vaccine if I've already lost my virginity?

Thankfully not. It's still worth getting it done if you are under the age of 18.

I'm a lesbian: do I still need the HPV vaccine?

Yes! The HPV infection has been found in women who have sex with women: they still benefit from the vaccination.

I thought the HPV vaccine was three doses, not two?

Scientists realised that two doses were just as good as three. So from September 2014 they started giving girls just two injections. That's why you might know older girls who had three doses, but you're only getting two.

Why don't boys get the HPV vaccine too?

At the moment the HPV vaccination is only given to girls. But if fewer girls get HPV then boys will get less of it too, when they're sexually active. So the government decided to only give it to girls for the time being.

Editor's note

August 2018 - Dr Hayley Willacy recently read that boys aged between 12 and 13 years in England will be offered the vaccine to protect them against HPV-related cancers from 2019. The vaccine not only protects men from HPV-related diseases - such as oral, throat and anal cancer - but also helps reduce the overall number of cervical cancers in women, through a process known as herd immunity.

What are the side-effects of the HPV vaccine?

Like any injection, it is a bit painful and will be sore at the injection site for a few days.

Other than that, there are barely any serious side-effects.

Is it just the UK that gives the HPV vaccine?

No, it's also given routinely to teenage girls in the USA, Australia, Canada and most of Europe. In fact, around 80 million girls get vaccinated every year!

Isn't it enough to use condoms?

Condoms are generally a really good idea, because they prevent you catching sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia and HIV.

Condoms don't prevent you catching HPV though, because you can catch HPV from close sexual contact without necessarily having sexual intercourse.

If I've had the human papillomavirus vaccine can I still get cervical cancer?

The chances of you getting cervical cancer are much lower, but you can still get it: 30% of cervical cancers aren't related to HPV at all.

You should still have cervical smears, which check for the warning signs of cervical cancer.

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